Social Work England are the specialist regulator for social work in England, focused on enabling positive change in social work. Every day, social workers support millions of people to improve their chances in life. We are taking a new approach to regulating social workers in their vital roles. We believe in the power of collaboration and share a common goal with those we regulate – to protect the public, enable positive change and ultimately improve people’s lives.
As one of the Heads of the Legal team, you will be jointly responsible for leading, line-managing and developing the team, influencing and ensuring delivery of Social Work England’s strategic business objectives, and facilitating the provision of high quality internal and external legal advice across the organisation. You will provide legal and strategic input into our project, policy and strategy work, to ensure that we comply with the law, protect the organisation, and seek any legislative amendments we need. You will work closely with the Executive Leadership Team, Assistant Directors, other Heads of functions, the Board, the Department for Education sponsor team and external legal providers to manage legal risk and drive a culture of legal awareness and compliance. As this role focuses on our regulatory functions, you will work particularly closely with colleagues in the Regulation directorate who deliver our registration and fitness to practise functions and are developing our new in-house advocacy service.
What you will do
- Provide strategic advice to Executive and Assistant Directors on all forms of regulatory litigation (including High Court appeals and judicial reviews), represent Social Work England in meetings, act as our key point of contact for external lawyers.
- Support the Executive Leadership Team and senior leaders by providing or procuring timely, accurate and high-quality privileged legal, regulatory and strategic advice in respect of all areas of law, including our regulatory remit and statutory framework as well as public law, European law and family law.
- Commission advice and manage relationships and contracts with external legal firms and Counsel on a wide range of legal issues, including defending legal actions against our regulatory decisions, judicial reviews and other legal challenges and ensuring the organisation takes a strategic, expertly-informed approach to managing legal risks.
- Lead and provide strategic advice on projects to reform our regulation of social workers and associated workforces, including representing Social Work England in meetings with the Department for Education, other Government bodies and other key external stakeholders.
- Provide specialist legal and regulatory advice on where amendments to our statutory framework are necessary and lead on the legal implementation of these changes.
- Liaise with key stakeholders in our work, including the Department for Education, Department of Health and Social Care, Professional Standards Authority and other regulators on matters of law and regulation.
- Provide specialist legal and regulatory insight into the setting of our strategic aims and the legal feasibility of new projects, including advising on how to devise and implement them in a legally compliant way.
- Ensure that the decisions we take are legally robust by identifying risks early and work with other teams, ELT, the Board and Sponsor team to ensure that these are managed appropriately, including giving advice on high risk, high profile and strategic matters, and reported as appropriate.
- Lead and set the strategic direction for the legal team, including managing the legal budget, planning the allocation of work and resources, supporting and performance managing members of the team, and ensuring they are suitably trained and facilitated to undertake relevant CPD activities. Be a visible and accessible head of legal, participating in the quality assurance of decision making and other project groups and working groups as necessary.
- Demonstrate a sound understanding of the business and build strong, collaborative relationships with senior leaders and Executive Directors across the organisation in order to advocate for, develop, and help embed appropriate and legally compliant policies, processes and frameworks.
- Undertake reserved legal activities such as direct instruction of Counsel and conducting litigation.
- Keep up to date with relevant legal, policy, sectoral and strategy developments and your own continuing professional development.
- Oversee and advise on the drafting of policy and operational guidance for decision makers and developing internal training content on legal compliance.
Your skills, knowledge and experience
- A current practising certificate and significant experience as a qualified Solicitor, Barrister or Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX). Please note that CILEX applicants will need to have litigation rights, or will need to discuss this with us.
- Substantial experience advising in relation to regulation and public law, preferably in the health and care sector.
- Experience of, or a willingness to learn, aspects of family law, specifically the Family Procedure Rules on disclosure of family court information.
- Excellent legal analytical and problem-solving skills and the ability to work in a politically sensitive environment, dealing with high profile sensitive issues.
- Excellent written communication skills, with the ability to draft clear, concise and comprehensive correspondence for a range of stakeholders.
- Excellent strategic thinking and collaboration skills to develop our organisational objectives with internal and external stakeholders.
- Excellent organisation and time management skills and the ability to manage different tasks calmly and flexibly while maintaining a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail.
- Strong interpersonal and leadership skills, with the ability to work with others and lead and respond positively, creatively and supportively to a variety of colleagues.
- A track record of respectful, open and honest behaviour including a demonstrable commitment to inclusion and diversity.
Details
- Job type: Permanent
- Working pattern: Full time. We offer flexible working subject to business need.
- Salary: £61,556 per year, rising to £63,880 per year after successful completion of a 6-month probationary period.
- Location: Sheffield/Hybrid.
- Benefits: Flexible working, contributory pension, life insurance and benefits portal.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: £61,556.00-£63,880.00 per year
Benefits:
- Cycle to work scheme
- Free flu jabs
- Life insurance
- On-site gym
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Sheffield S3 8JY